Method useful in the manufacture of tools and the like



} July 19, 1938. J, RAGSDALE ETYAL 2,124,236

. METHOD USEFUL IN'THE MANUFACTURE OF TOOLS AND THE LIKE Filed April 27, 1935 I :44 v I 2- s J 2v 2.

' v JOHN EEAas'mLE ROBERT B. Goopwnv [m/ENroEs ATTORNEY Patented July 19,1938

METHODUSEFUL'IN THE MANUFACTURE OF I 1 TOOLS AND THE. LIKE JohnBfRagsdale, Whittier, and'Robert G. Goodwin; Fullerton, Calif., assignors to Globe Oil Tools Company, Los Nietos, Califl, a corporation of California Application April 27,

3 Claims.

This invention relates toa method useful in the I manufacture of tools and relates more particularly to a method for setting diamond substitutes,

abrasive particles, or resistant elements ina tool 5. such as a well drilling tool. A general object of this invention is to provide a simple, rapid and commercially practical method for setting particles or small bodies 'of 'hard cutting material or wear resistant material in a tool.

Well tools and other tools and devices have been provided with inserts'of'hard cutting material and 'Wear taking elements such as tungsten carbide to make them efficient and long wearing. One of the most common and universal methods of providing tools with the diamond substitutes or hard inserts is to weld a steel rodto each individual insert, pick up the insert by means of the rod and place it on the face of'the tool and then build up the tool about the insert with'welded-ori ma 20,-.tterial, which last step melts the mild steel rod from the insert. 'The diamond substitute or insert isfsuddenly subjected t'o'high temperatures when the rod is welded to it, which high temperatures are maintained for a substantial period ,during the process of Welding the insert to the tool. The sudden subjection of the hard cutting insert or wear resistant insert to the high welding temperatures and'th'e maintenance ofthe high temperatures during the weldin'g' operat'ion' have 30,.very deleterious effects upon the insert 1 and a more orless imperfect-bond resultsbetween the insert and the welded-on metal on the face of the tool. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a *method for setting diamond'substitutes or bodies of hard wear resisting material in a toolin which the inserts are directly-set or embeddedin the original substance or original metal of the tool.

Another object of the invention is to'provicle a resistant inserts in a tool in which the inserts are not subjected to prolongede'xcessively high temperatures and, therefore, are not cracked, weakenedor excessively oxidized.

? Another object of the invention is to provide a method for setting diamond substitutes or bodies of cutting and wear resistant material in a tool in which the said bodies are handled at a relatively high temperature and while at such a tem- 5O1Lperature are partially or entirely immersed in puddled or molten portions of the tool whereby an effective secure bond is obtained between the original metal of the tool and the'said bodies.

Another object of this invention is to provide 555a method of the character mentioned in which method for setting diamond substitutes or wear 1935, Serial No.-18,542

the diamond substitutes or bodies of hard cutting material may be accurately set or positioned in the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means useful in carrying out the above-mentioned method that slowly raises the diamond substi tutes or bodies of hard cutting material to a relatively high temperature when in a position where they are conveniently accessible for setting in the 17001.

The Various objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a typical preferred manner of carrying out the method of the invention, in

which:

Fig. l' is a view of atypical'well' drilling tool arranged in a horizontal position illustrating a plurality of diamond substitutes or bodies of hard cutting material arranged in position on plates adjacent a blade of the tool.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 onFig. 1 illustrating the step of placing one ofthe inserts or bodies in a puddled portion of the tooli" Fig. 3 a

is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the manner of pushing or forcing the body into the puddle, and Fig. 4 is a view similar'to Fig. 2 showing the body set in the tool after the molten portion or puddlehas cooled and solidified. I

Themethod'of the present invention is adapted. for use in the manufacture of devices and tools of various characters.

Throughout the following detailed disclosure we will describe a typical manner of carrying out the method in-setting diamond substitutes in a more or less typical well 7 drillingbit, it being understood that the inven-- tion is not to be construed as limited or restricted to the specific'application of the invention about to be described, but that it is to be taken as including any features or modifications that may fall within the scope of the claims.

The particular well tool T illustrated in the drawing is in the nature of a Well drilling bit comprising a shoe or body Ill and spaced projecttion includes, generally, the heating of the diamond substitutes or the bodies I4 of hard cutting material, or the slow raising of the bodies I4 to a suitable relatively high temperature, the puddling or melting of a portion of the face of the tool T and the immersing or setting of a hot body I4 in the molten portion of the tool.

The inserts or bodies I4 may be natural products or may be manufactured products such as pieces of tungsten carbide or the like. In the particular case illustrated in the drawing the bodies I4 have substantially flat upper surfaces and cylindrioally curved lower surfaces. It is to be understood that the bodies l4 may be of any configuration. While the step of heating the wear resisting hard cutting bodies I4. and the step of maintaining the bodies I4 at a suitable relatively high temperature may be accomplished in various manners the invention provides a;

practical and convenient means for slowly raising the temperature of the bodies I4 tothe desired temperature during the setting operation. The invention provides plates I5 and I6 for carrying or supporting the bodies I4 in positions adjacent the cutting part or tool. Where the inserts or bodies I4 are to be set in a blade I4 of the tool T the plate I5 is arranged to extend along a longitudinal edge of the blade I l and the.

plate I6 is set or arranged to extend along the outer or lower end of the blade. The plates I5 and I6 constitute shelves or supports and may be arranged immediately adjacent orin engagement with the edges of the blade I I so that their upper surfaces are in the same plane as the face I2 of the blade or are slightly above the ;face of the blade as illustrated in the drawing;

ly bring the bodies I4 to a suitable relatively high temperature. It is to be understood that the bodies I4 carried on the plates I5 and I6 may be heated in other manners if desired. The diamond substitutes or bodies I4 are arranged'on the upper surfaces of the plates I5 and I6 adjacent the edges of the blade II to be heated as just described and to be conveniently accessible for setting in the face I2 of the blade.

When the inserts or bodies I4 have been arranged in convenient positions on the plates I5 and I6 a portion of the face of the blade II is puddled or made molten to receive a body I4 of hard cutting material. This step of the method may be carried out in any well known manner, for example, a molten puddle such as the puddle I I in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, may be formed in the face I2 of the blade II by directing the flame of an acetylene torch against that portion of the tool. While the bodies I4 on the plates I5 and I6 may be warmed or heated by the flame or torch forming the puddle I I, they are not subjected to the intense direct heat of the flame and are not injured. Immediately following the formation of the molten portion or puddle I! a body I4 is moved'or carried from the plate I5 or the plate I6 and is placed in the puddle I1 and is forced downwardly therein until it is flush with or below the face I2 of the blade.' The pushing or forcing of the hard bodyI4 into the puddle I'I assures an effective bond between the metal forming the puddle I1 and the body I 4. When the insert or hard body I4 is pushed or forced below the surface I2 of the blade II the molten metal of the puddle Il may flow over the upper surface of the body I4 so that the body is completely immersed in the molten metal.

Two simple effective tools may be used for handling the hot diamond substitutes or bodies I4 of hard cutting material and for positioning them in the puddles in the face of the tool or blade. One of these tools is in the form of tongs I8.while the other is a pointed instrument or finger tool I9. The tongs I8 include a body 20 of wire or other flexible material having two normally spaced arms 2I. Members 22 of a material that does not tend to stick to molten metal are attached to the arms 2I. In practice the members 22 may bev sticks of carbon. The members 22 may be attached to the arms by U-bolts or by wrapped wire as illustrated at 23. The outer ends of the members 22 are preferably bevelled or pointed as shown to more readily engage the inserts or bodies I4. It will be apparent how the tongs I8 may be employed to pick up a particle or body I44 and place it in the puddle I1 and how the tongs may be used, if desired, to push the body I4 downwardly in the puddle.

The finger tool I9 comprises a holder having a head 24 and a handle 25 projecting laterally from the head. The head 24 is tubular having an opening 26. A member 21 of a material such as carbon is arranged through the opening 26 of the head 24 and is removably held therein by a set screw 28. A body I4 may be readily manipulated or shifted from a plate I5 or I6 to the surface I2 of the blade II by the member 21 of the finger tool I9 and the tool I9 may be utilized to move the hard body into the puddle I1. The end of the member 21 of the tool I9 may be engaged against the'body I4 in the puddle and forced against the body to push it into the puddle I! as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The tools I8 and I9 are sometimes used together or in conjunction, or they maybe used separately, when setting a body I4 in the face of the blade II. The tongs I8 may be employed to pick up and convey the body I4 to the puddle I1 and the finger tool I9 may be used to depress or force the body I4 into the puddle I1. I When the finger tool I9 is used alone it is employed to push the body I4 to the puddle I-1 and todepress the body in the puddle.

Prior to the depressing or forcing of the insert or body I4 into the puddle I] the body may be manipulated or shifted by the tools described.

above to assume the desired position in the finished tool. The immersing or forcing of the particle or hard body I4 into the puddle I! of molten metal assures a very perfect bond between the original metal of the tool and the diamond substitute or body I4. Following the setting or immersion of the body I4 the molten or puddled portion of the face of the blade II is allowed to cool and solidify. When the molten portion of the blade II cools and solidifies the insert or body I4 is completely encased in and effectively bonded with the surrounding original substance or metal of the blade II. Fig. 4 of the drawing illustrates a body I4 embedded or set in the original metal of the blade II that had been melted to'form the puddle II. It is to be noted that the insert or body I4 is embedded and encased in the original metal of the blade II and that the face or surface I2 of the blade is subembedded in the blade II in the manner described above.

The method provided by the present invention may be employed to easily and quickly set diamond substitutes in the active parts or cutting parts of a tool or the like. The wear resisting particles or bodies of hard cutting material set by the method are not subjected to the direct intense heat of a welding flame. The pressing or forcing of the inserts or bodies l4 into the molten puddles of the original metal of the tool provides and insures a more efiective bond between the metal and the hard bodies than is obtained by the welding of the hard bodies to the tool. The diamond substitutes or hard cutting bodies set in a tool by the method of this invention are not carried by or encased in built-up or welded-on extra metal as are the diamond substitutes set by the conventional methods, and, therefore, are more securely and dependably retained on the tool to increase its efficiency. The method does not materially alter the size or shape of the tool and provides for the setting of i the wear resistant particles or bodies of hard cutting material in the desired or preferred positions in the active parts of the tool.

Having described only a typical preferred application and manner of carrying out the method of the invention we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The method of setting bodies of hard cutting material in a cutting part comprising heating the cutting part, heating a body of hard cutting material by heat given off by the cutting part, making a puddle of a portion of the cutting part by subjecting it to a melting temperature, and then placing the heated body in the puddle.

2. The method of setting bodies of hard cutting material in a cutting part comprising heating 'the cutting part, positioning a body of hard cutting material so as to be heated by heat given off by the cutting part, making a portion of the original metal of the cutting part molten by the application of heat, immersing the heated body in the molten'metal to bond therewith, and then allowing the molten metal to solidify.

3. The method of manufacturing a tool comprising heating the tool, heating a cutting part by heat given off by the tool, forming a molten puddle in a face portion of the tool by subjecting it to melting heat, placing the heated cutting part in the puddle, manipulating the part to the cutting position, and then allowing the molten metal of the puddle to solidify.

JOHN B. RAGSDALE. ROBERT G. GOODWIN. 

